How does a decrease in albedo affect Earth's temperature?

• A. It reduces the temperature
• B. It increases the temperature by absorbing more solar radiation
• C. It has no effect on temperature
• D. It cools the planet by reflecting more light

Answer: (B)

Albedo is how much sunlight Earth’s surface and atmosphere reflect back into space. A high albedo means more sunlight is reflected, while a low albedo means more sunlight is absorbed. When albedo decreases, more solar radiation is absorbed instead of being reflected, which adds energy to the Earth system and tends to raise the average temperature. This warming effect is amplified by feedbacks such as ice and snow melting, which exposes darker surfaces that absorb even more heat. So, a decrease in albedo leads to warming because it increases the amount of solar energy that stays in the planet’s system.